Ralph Hall, John Ratcliffe speak out about primary runoff

HEATH,TX -- Hours after losing in a primary runoff, Congressman Ralph Hall and John Ratcliffe spoke out about the race.

"I don't know anything else I can say to you other than God Bless you, every one of you. I love every dog gone one of you," said Ralph Hall.

"Congressman Hall has done a great job. I want to build on the things that he's done, but I'm always going to be John Ratcliffe. I'm a different person, " said Ratcliffe.

Tuesday, Ralph Hall, Texas' 4th District Congressman for 34 years lost in the Republican primary runoff to challenger John Ratcliffe by nearly 2,400 votes.

Hall was first elected to Congress in 1980, after serving as a Texas state senator and Rockwall County judge, where he was born in 1923.

At 91, the World War Two veteran was the oldest serving Congressman to date. We spoke with him Wednesday, hours after losing his 18th re-election bid.

"It's okay; I'm not unhappy with it. I'm glad it's over and I'm glad to be back here and I'm going to be working my tail off more than I ever have been these last 6 months," said Hall.

In the past one hundred years, three Congressmen have served Texas' 4th District, former speaker of the house and Bonham native Sam Rayburn, Ray Roberts and Hall, who says he is happy with his career and what he's fought for, but now he's ready to relax.

"I'm going to hug around and love on my grandchildren and I'm going to kick the cedar briches out of my grandsons," said Hall.

We visited Ratcliffe in Heath Texas Wednesday after a chaotic Election Night.

"We'll I'm a little bit tired. It's been a longtime, but it's a good tired," said Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe says he's thankful for votes he received from Texoma counties.

He says he ran so he could fix problems such as the national debt, balancing the budget, spending caps, and health care. He says he hopes he can pave the way for a great future for generations to come.

"I have a 14 year old and a 12 year old daughter and I have a real concern that they're not going to have the same chance at the American dream like I have," said Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe says Hall has been a great political figure for many years but feels it was time for a new face to represent North Texas in Washington and he hopes he can make voters proud.

"We talked about the next generation of conservative leadership and I think that's what people wanted, and now that's what people expect and that's what I'm going to try and deliver," said Ratcliffe.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.